Place of birth Lincoln, Nebraska Name Verne Lewellen 1924–1932 Green Bay Packers | College Nebraska Role American football player | |
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Date of birth (1901-09-29)September 29, 1901 Date of death April 16, 1980(1980-04-16) (aged 78) Died April 16, 1980, Rockville, Maryland, United States Education University of Nebraska–Lincoln Positions Quarterback, Halfback, Fullback | ||
Place of death Rockville, Maryland | ||
Verne Clark Lewellen (September 29, 1901 – April 16, 1980) was an American football player and executive.
A four-sport high school athlete, Lewellen stayed in Lincoln to attend Nebraska University, where he captained and quarterbacked the Cornhuskers to a 14-7 defeat of a Notre Dame squad in 1923. Also a pitcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates were ready to sign him until an injury from a train wreck affected his pitching arm. Jim Crowley - who played against Lewellen in the 1923 Nebraska-Notre Dame matchup - recommended Lewellen to Packer coach Curly Lambeau.
He played most of his nine-year career with the Green Bay Packers. Lewellen played in 102 games for the Packers from 1924 to 1932 (in 1927, the team "lent" him to the New York Yankees for three end-of-season games and earned all-league first team honors from 1926-29.
Completing a law degree from Nebraska University during his professional football career, he ran successfully for Brown County (WI) District Attorney in 1928 against Packer teammate LaVern Dilweg and was re-elected in 1930. He lost the seat in the 1932 election and practiced law until his retirement.
In 1950, he joined the Packers as a member of the executive committee, served as the Packers' general manager from 1954 through 1958 and business manager from 1961-'67.
He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1970.
The Professional Football Researchers Association named Lewellen to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009